u* 


<-  Y*- 


Human  and  Divine  Agency 

IN  THE 

Work  of  Missions. 


REV.  JOHN  L.  N E V I U S. 


HUMAN  AND  DIVINE  AGENCY 

IN  TUP. 

Morh  of  missions. 


A SERMON 


PREACHED  IN  THE 


SCOTCH  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  NEW  YORK. 

MAY  5,  1867. 


FOR  THE 


$oarb  of  Jfordgn  Utissions  of  tl;c  ^Jvcsbntcriaix  Cljmjj, 


BY  THE 


EEY.  JOHN  L.  NEYIUS, 

OF  THE  NINGPO  MISSION. 


New  Y o e k : 

MISSION  HOUSE,  23  CENTRE  STREET. 

1867. 


EDWARD  0.  JENKINS,  PRINTER, 
ao  NORTH  WILLIAM  STREET. 


Jjunwit  anil  point  2Weiun  in  the  (Sloth  of  Jflissions. 


A SERMON 

PREACHED  IN  THE  SCOTCH  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  NEW  YORK,  MAY  5,  1967,  FOR  THE 
BOARD  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS  OK  THE  TRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

By  THE  llEY.  JOHN  L.  NEVIUS, 

OP  THE  N1NGPO  MISSION. 

Exodus  xiv.  15 : “ And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Wherefore  criest  thou  unto  me  ? 
Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  that  they  go  forward.” 

TnESE  words  were  addressed  by  Jehovah  to  Moses,  and 
through  him  to  the  Israelites,  at  a time  of  extreme  anxiety  and 
peril.  Just  escaped  from  the  laud  of  Egypt,  they  found  them- 
selves surrounded  by  unanticipated  dangers,  more  dreaded  than 
the  bondage  from  which  the}'  had  been  released.  Before  them 
was  the  Red  Sea ; and  on  either  side  impassable  mountains ; 
while  the  advancing  hosts  of  the  Egyptians  were  closing  in 
upon  their  rear.  In  their  alarm,  they  forgot  the  guiding  pillar, 
the  symbol  of  the  presence  and  protection  of  their  God,  which 
still  pointed  onward,  onward  to  the  sea.  Distrustful  of  God’s 
providence,  and  overwhelmed  with  fear,  they  gave  themselves 
up  to  murmurings  and  repinings ; and  looked  back  with  long- 
ing eyes  towards  Egypt.  It  would  seem  from  the  narrative, 
that  even  Moses  himself,  though  persuaded  that  God  would 
iutei-pose  by  his  almighty  power  for  their  salvation,  shared 
somewhat  in  the  general  perturbation,  and  was  crying  to  God 
for  blessings  already  promised,  instead  of  leading  on  and  en- 
couraging the  people  in  the  performance  of  their  duty.  Under 
these  circumstances,  “the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Wherefore 
criest  thou  unto  me  ? Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel  that 
they  go  forward.”  As  if  to  say,  “ this  is  the  time  for  action, 


4 


HUMAN  AND  DIVINE  AGENCY 


not  for  affrighted  outcry.  It  is  only  in  the  performance  of 
duty,  that  the  promised  blessing  of  God  can  be  secured/’ 

It  is  sad  to  notice,  even  at  this  early  period  of  the  Church’s 
history,  the  disposition  to  doubt  and  to  disobey.  But  in  these 
respects,  as  well  as  in  others,  the  Jewish  church  was  a truthful 
type  of  the  Church  in  all  ages.  We  have  the  same  evil  heart 
of  unbelief,  and  it  is  well  for  us  to  inquire  whether  we  may 
not  be  repeating  their  history  ? It  is  expressly  declared  of  the 
events  recorded  in  this  history,  that  “ all  these  things  happened 
unto  them  for  ensamples,  and  they  are  written  for  our  admoni- 
tion upon  whom  the  ends  of  the  world  are  come.” 

The  great  truth  taught  in  my  text  is,  the  importance  of  hu- 
man agency  co-operating  with  the  divine  in  ca/rrying  out  God's 
purposes.  God  works  in  and  by  his  people;  and  calls  upon 
them  to  work  with  him.  This  duty  is  presented  both  in  the 
form  of  a reproof  and  of  a command. 

I.  Let  us  inquire  in  the  first  place  as  to  the  occasion  or  rea- 
son for  this  reproof ; and  also  to  what  extent  it  is  applicable  to 
us,  in  view  of  the  relations  in  which  God  has  placed  us,  and 
the  duties  he  has  laid  upon  us. 

1.  The  principal  reason  why  God’s  displeasure  was  mani- 
fested towards  the  Israelites,  seems  to  have  been  their  failure 
to  understand  the  true  relation  which  they  sustained  to  him,  and 
to  perform  the  function  which  belonged  to  them  in  executing  his 
plans.  lie  had  delivered  them  from  bondage ; wrought  signs 
and  wonders  among  them ; and  entered  into  a covenant  with 
them,  promising  to  give  them  the  land  of  Canaan  for  a posses- 
sion, and  requiring  of  them  simple  faith  and  obedience.  Their 
error  was,  that,  as  God  had  done  so  much  for  them,  they  looked 
to  him  to  do  everything,  and  when  they  met  difficulties,  they 
hesitated  and  complained ; seeking  further  direction  and  pro- 
tection when  none  were  needed,  and  pausing  in  the  discharge 
of  their  duty  to  question  the  wisdom  and  faithfulness  of  God. 

Now,  the  Angel  of  God’s  presence,  who  was  with  “the  Church 
in  the  wilderness,”  leading  Israel  like  a flock,  has  ever  been 
leading  his  people  through  different  eras  in  the  world’s  history; 


IN  THE  WORK  OF  MISSIONS. 


and  lie  is  leading  us  still.  It  is  for  us  to  inquire,  What  is  now 
our  position  ? What  are  our  relations  to  God,  to  his  Church, 
and  to  the  world  ? and  what  the  duties  he  has  devolved 
upon  us? 

The  Messiah  promised  to  the  Jews  has  long  since  appeared ; 
and  we,  who  were  sinners  of  the  Gentiles,  are  permitted  to  re- 
joice in  his  great  salvation.  We  are  blessed  with  a higher  and 
clearer  revelation,  and  more  exceeding  great  and  precious  prom- 
ises. We  are  called  to  engage  in  more  glorious  enterprises, 
and  have  laid  upon  us  more  solemn  responsibilities.  The  great 
duty  assigned  to  us  is  that  of  diffusing  the  knowledge  of  Christ's 
gospel  through  the  whole  world  ; a duty  made  obligatory  upon 
us  by  the  most  specific  commands,  and  remarkable  providences. 
It  was*  revealed,  even  in  the  Old  Testament,  that  the  Messiah 
should  be  for  “ a light  unto  the  Gentiles,”  and  “ for  salvation  to 
the  ends  of  the  earth.”  The  angels  who  heralded  his  coming, 
proclaimed  on  the  hills  of  Judea,  “Good  tidings  of  great  joy 
which  shall  be  for  all  people?  But  it  was  not  yet  clearly  re- 
vealed how  the  joyful  tidings  should  be  made  known  to  those 
for  whom  they  were  intended,  and  to  whom,  as  a divinely  con- 
ferred right,  they  belong.  This  question  was  settled  by  a 
special  command  of  our  Saviour,  reserved  to  be  the  last,  and 
uttered  under  the  most  solemn  and  impressive  circumstances ; 
when,  leaving  the  scenes  of  his  humiliation,  and  his  finished 
work,  he  ascended  up  into  heaven  in  the  presence  of  his  disci- 
ples. Those  solemn  words,  recorded  by  the  pen  of  inspiration, 
have  been  sounding  in  the  ears  of  the  Church  ever  since  ; and 
they  come  to  us  to-night  with  unimpaired  authority.  “ All 
power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  in  earth.”  “ Go  ye  into 
all  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature.”  “Ye 
shall  be  witnesses  unto  me,  both  in  Jerusalem  and  in  all  Judea, 
and  in  Samaria,  and  unto  the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth.” 
“And,  lo,  I am  with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world.”  Wonderful  words!  How  unmistakable  in  their 
meaning — how  authoritative  in  their  tone — what  stupendous 
results  do  they  contemplate — what  mighty  responsibilities  do 
they  impose ! They  will  never  cease  to  be  binding  upon  the 


6 


HUMAN  AND  DIVINE  AGENCY 


Church,  and  upon  every  Christian,  until  none  shall  have  need 
to  say  to  his  brother,  know  the  Lord,  for  all  shall  know  him 
from  the  least  unto  the  greatest. 

But  the  extents  of  God's  'providence  conspire  with  the  com- 
mands of  his  word  to  make  our  duty,  if  possible,  still  clearer. 
God  is  working  wonders  before  our  eyes,  no  less  striking,  and 
on  a much  larger  scale,  than  in  the  times  of  the  Israelites ; and 
he  is  doing  it  in  such  a manner  as  to  facilitate  the  performance 
of  the  work  which  he  has  given  us  to  do.  The  ends  of  the 
earth  are  being  brought  together,  and  its  scattered  populations 
reunited  into  one  brotherhood  of  nations.  Old  forms  of  civi- 
lization are  passing  away;  and  society  is  being  re-established 
on  a new  basis.  Wide  and  effectual  doors  are  everywhere 
opened  for  the  Church  to  enter.  There  is  now  no  heed  to 
specify  where  doors  are  opened ; the  whole  world  lies  before  us 
white  to  the  harvest.  The  Macedonian  cry  has  found  a thou- 
sand tongues,  and  comes  to  us  from  every  nation  under  the 
whole  heaven. 

I would  direct  your  attention  for  a moment  to  one  of  these 
nations  in  particular,  the  Chinese  Empire  ; not  only  on  account 
of  my  special  interest  in  it  as  the  place  where  I have  labored 
as  your  missionary,  and  where  I hope  to  spend  my  life ; but  on 
account  of  its  intrinsic  importance  as  a field  for  missionary  en- 
terprise, and  its  special  claims  upon  us,  growing  out  of  our 
near  relations  to  it.  This  empire  presents  to  us  a civilization 
more  than  twenty  centuries  old ; and  a population  amounting 
to  nearly  one-third  of  the  whole  human  family,  all  idolaters. 
Foreign  wars  have  partly  dispelled  the  long  cherished  illusion 
that  she  sits  queen  of  the  nations,  and  is  specially  called  to 
rule  over  and  civilize  them  as  inferior  tributaries  and  vassals. 
These  foreign  wars,  together  with  internal  revolutions,  have 
shaken  her  empire  to  its  centre.  Political  and  commercial  in- 
tercourse, and  the  labors  of  Romish  and  Protestant  missionaries, 
are  introducing  new  ideas,  and  undermining  the  foundations 
upon  which  her  government  and  social  institutions  have  rested 
for  thousands  of  years.  She  is  starting  from  the  slumber  of 
ages,  with  her  mighty  millions,  and  her  power  of  wealth  and 


IN  THE  WORK  OF  MISSIONS. 


7 


intellect,  to  take  her  place  in  the  family  of  nations,  and  join  in 
the  march  of  modern  civilization.  She  is  now  in  a condition 
to  be  reached,  and  influenced  for  good.  All  her  provinces  and 
territories  are  opened.  By  express  treaty  stipulations,  Chris- 
tianity is  not  only  tolerated  and  protected,  but  almost  recom- 
mended. This  vast  empire,  and  the  adjacent  nations  of  Corea 
and  Japan,  have  become  near  neighbors  to  us ; and  in  the  fu- 
ture, our  destinies  are  to  be  closely  linked  together.  God  has 
given  them  to  us  to  lead  in  the  paths  of  a Christian  civili- 
zation. He  has  given  us  great  facilities  for  communication 
with  them  ; a commanding  influence  over  them  ; and  has  poured 
into  our  lap  abundant  wealth  for  carrying  on  the  work  which 
he  has  given  us  to  do. 

With  these  significant  providences,  added  to  the  most  solemn 
and  specific  commands  of  our  Saviour,  what  a fearful  responsi- 
bility is  laid  upon  us  ! We  may  truly  say,  without  exaggeration, 
that  there  never  has  been  such  an  opportunity  to  work  with 
and  for  God  and  his  Church.  We  seem  to  be  approaching  one 
of  the  great  epochs,  perhaps  the  last,  in  the  world’s  history. 
Do  we  realize  our  position  ? Are  we  performing  our  duties  ? 
Are  we  not  rather  like  them  that  sleep  \ Do  we  not  deserve 
severer  rebukes  and  judgments  than  those  which  were  uttered 
against  the  Israelites  ? It  is  time  for  us  to  go  forward  ; to  come 
up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty.  W^oe  be  to  us, 
if,  at  such  a juncture,  and  under  such  circumstances,  we  preach 
not  the  gospel  of  Christ  to  the  heathen. 

2.  Another  occasion  for  the  reproof  of  the  text  "was  a want 
of  faith  on  the  part  of  the  Israelites,  and  tlieir  petulant  fault- 
finding spirit.  The  means  employed  seemed  to  them  inappro- 
priate, and  inadequate  to  accomplish  the  end  proposed.  How 
should  they,  unarmed  and  unused  to  war,  successfully  oppose 
the  hosts  of  the  Egyptians  ? In  what  possible  manner  should 
they  extricate  themselves  from  the  position  into  which  they 
had  been  led  ? Of  what  use  to  them,  in  contending  with  real 
enemies  of  flesh  and  blood,  were  the  pillar  of  cloud  and  the 
pillar  of  fire  ? To  their  view,  it  seemed  that  there  must  have 
been  some  mistake ; that  this  was  not  the  way  to  salvation, 


8 


HUMAN  AND  DIVINE  AGENCY 


but  to  destruction.  They  murmured  against  Moses,  and  they 
murmured  against  God. 

Is  there  not  too  much  of  this  spirit  in  the  Church  at  the  pres- 
ent day?  We  hear  Christians  complaining  that  so  little  is  ac- 
complished. Some  suggest  the  employment  of  other  means 
than  the  simple  preaching  of  the  gospel.  Some  would  sit  still 
and  wait  for  God  to  perform  other  wonders ; or  for  Christianity 
to  find  its  way  to  heathen  lands  through  the  channels  of  com- 
mercial intercourse,  without  any  special  effort  on  the  part  of 
the  Church.  Others  find  fault  with  missionaries,  that  they  are 
not  sufficiently  laborious  and  self-sacrificing ; while  wonder  is 
expressed  by  some  that  God  does  not,  in  answer  to  the  prayers 
of  the  Church,  vouchsafe  a greater  blessing. 

Christian  friends,  there  certainly  can  be  no  mistake  in  the 
plan  which  God  has  adopted,  which  is,  I believe,  the  one  fol- 
lowed by  the  Church.  The  failure  to  reach  those  results  which 
we  so  much  desire,  and  which  God  is  willing  to  grant,  may  be 
more  justly  accounted  for  in  a different  way.  The  children  of 
Israel  found  safety  and  success  only  in  obedience  to  the  will 
and  commands  of  God.  After  crossing  the  Red  Sea,  they  failed 
to  enter  the  promised  land,  and  turned  back  to  the  forty  years 
wandering  in  the  wilderness ; and  why  ? Because  they  would 
not  go  forward — because  of  their  unbelief  and  disobedience. 
It  was  a failure  or  delay  for  which  they,  and  they  only,  were 
responsible.  Afterwards,  the  promised  land  was  slowly  and 
imperfectly  conquered,  for  the  same  reason.  And  now,  eighteen 
hundred  years  after  the  command  of  Christ  to  evangelize  the 
nations,  darkness  still  covers  the  earth,  and  gross  darkness  the 
people.  The  work  moves  on  slowly  ; and  the  conquest  of  the 
world  for  Christ,  and  the  promised  millennium  of  glory,  are 
still  in  the  future.  And  it  is  a solemn  question  for  us  to  an- 
swer— why?  Has  God  forgotten  to  be  gracious?  Has  he  not 
promised  to  “give  the  heathen  to  his  Son  for  his  inheritance?” 
Is  he  not  now  assuring  us  by  his  providence  that  he  is  willing 
and  waiting  to  lead  on  his  Church  to  the  possession  of  the 
world.  I believe  the  Church  is  responsible  for  this  seeming 
delay.  We  have  not  that  faith  which  we  should  have,  nor  the 


IX  THE  WORK  OF  MISSIONS. 


9 


corresponding  works  and  self-sacrificing  devotion.  "W  Idle  we 
are  doubting,  and  complaining,  the  voice  of  God  comes  to  us : 
“Bring  ye  all  the  tithes  into  the  store-house,  that  there  may  be 
meat  in  my  house,  and  prove  me  now  herewith,  saith  the  Lord 
of  hosts,  if  I will  not  open  you  the  windows  of  heaven,  and 
pour  you  out  a blessing,  that  there  shall  not  be  room  enough 
to  receive  it.” 

3.  Still  another  reason  for  the  reproof  of  the  text  was  the 
inconsistency  of  the  professions,  and  the  insincerity  of  the  pray- 
ers of  God’s  people.  They  cried  unto  God,  but  their  prayers 
were  not  acceptable,  simply  because  they  were  but  the  outward 
disguises  of  homage  and  worship,  while  their  hearts  were  full 
of  infidelity,  worldliness,  and  disobedience. 

In  these  days  the  duty  of  sending  the  gospel  to  the  heathen 
is,  theoretically  at  least,  acknowledged.  The  highest  judica- 
tory of  our  Church,  and  also  Synods  and  Presbyteries,  have 
declared  clearly  and  repeatedly  that  the  work  of  Missions  is 
one  of  supreme  importance  and  solemn  obligation ; a duty  rest- 
ing upon  every  member  of  the  Church  individually.  Christians 
generally  acknowledge,  at  least  by  words,  that  they  are  “ debt- 
ors both  to  the  Greeks  and  to  the  Barbarians,  both  to  the 
wise  and  to  the  unwise.”  Prayers  are  constantly  offered,  that 
God  would  send  abroad  his  light  and  his  truth ; abolish  idol- 
atry and  superstition  ; and  fill  the  whole  world  with  his  glory. 
But,  when  we  compare  all  these  declarations,  resolutions,  pro- 
fessions, and  prayers  with  what  has  really  been  done,  are  we 
not  astonished  at  the  remarkable  want  of  correspondence.  Or, 
to  be  more  plain  and  specific.  Within  the  memory  of  many 
now  living,  most  of  the  nations  of  the  heathen  world  denied 
to  us  the  privilege  of  preaching  to  them  the  gospel ; and  the 
Church  sent  up  to  the  throne  of  grace  the  oft  repeated  prayer 
that  God  would  open  the  vast  empires  of  the  East  to  the  intro- 
duction of  his  truth.  Those  prayers  have  been  fully,  literally, 
wonderfully  answered.  God  made  use  of  the  military  power 
of  England,  France,  Russia,  and  the  United  States  to  accomplish 
this  end ; and  scarcely  anything  is  left  to  be  desired  in  this  re- 
gard. And  now  it  is  for  us  to  show  whether  we  were  sincere 


10 


HUMAN  AND  DIVINE  AGENCY 


or  not  in  offering  tliose  prayers.  Did  we  really  wish  to  enter 
those  lands?  Did  we,  or  do  we,  earnestly  desire  to  see  the 
name  of  Jesus  glorified,  and  these  perishing  millions  made  ac- 
quainted with  his  truth  ? I have  heard  Christians  continuing 
to  use  the  same  stereotyped  prayer,  from  mere  force  of  habit ; 
not  thinking  that,  so  far  as  this  petition  is  concerned,  the  work 
of  God  is  all  done,  and  our  work  remains  undone.  I would  by 
no  means  speak  lightly  of  the  prayers  of  God’s  people.  The 
work  of  Missions  is  emphatically  a work  of  prayer.  But  when 
many  prayers  are  offered,  as  it  almost  seems,  as  a substitute  for 
active  service,  they  are  not  only  useless,  but  a solemn  mockery, 
offensive  to_  God ; and  may  well  provoke  the  reproof  of  the 
text : “ Wherefore  criest  thou  unto  me  ? Speak  to  the  children 
of  Israel,  that  they  go  forward.”  God  forbid,  that  by  our  apa- 
thy and  inactivity  we  should  voluntarily  and  unmistakably 
convict  ourselves  of  insincerity  and  hypocrisy. 

4.  But  it  may  be  said  by  some,  that  the  Church  is  doing  her 
duty ; and  that  the  statements  or  intimations  to  which  I have 
given  expression  are  extreme  and  unwarranted.  Far  be  it  from 
me  to  indulge  in  the  language  or  spirit  of  detraction  or  misrep- 
resentation. But,  called  upon  in  the  providence  of  God  to 
address  you  on  this  occasion,  on  a subject  which  so  nearly  con- 
cerns the  interests  of  the  Redeemer’s  kingdom,  and  our  own 
prosperity  as  a Church  and  as  individuals,  it  is  but  proper  that 
I speak  plainly  and  unequivocally. 

The  question  is  one  of  fact.  How  far  is  the  Church  fulfilling 
her  duty  in  giving  her  earnest  sympathies,  and  prayers,  and 
labors,  and  means,  for  sending  the  gospel  to  the  heathen  ? I 
know  that  there  are  individuals  in  many  of  our  churches  who 
are  doing,  in  comparison  with  others,  nobly  ; it  would  almost 
seem,  beyond  their  power ; but  what  is  the  record  of  the  Church 
at  large?  Here,  I cannot  indulge,  on  the  whole,  in  congratula- 
tions, because  I see  no  ground  for  them;  except  it  be  that  our 
Church  is  doing  a very  little  more  than  the  little  she  has  been 
doing  for  the  past  thirty  years.  Statistics  show  that  her  mem- 
bers give  on  an  average  considerably  less  than  one  dollar  each 
to  the  cause  of  Foreign  Missions  annually.  Or,  to  discriminate, 


IN  THE  WORK  OF  MISSIONS. 


11 


a few  give  generously ; the  most  give  very  little  ; and  very 
many  give  uothing  at  all.  The  proportion  of  each  church- 
member  is  so  near  to  nothing,  that  it  is  not  worthy  of  being 
named,  except  as  an  evidence  of  our  apathy  and  neglect.  It  is 
not  the  hundredth  part  of  what  the  members  of  our  Church 
spend  for  needless  luxuries,  and  the  frivolities  of  fashion.  It  is 
about  the  one-fortieth  part  of  what  many  a poor  laboring  man, 
who  can  hardly  furnish  his  family  with  the  necessaries  of  lite, 
spends  for  tobacco.  What  a contrast  is  presented  whenever 
we  compare  what  the  Church  gives  for  Christ’s  cause,  with 
what  men  give  for  other  and  worldly  objects,  when  they  are 
really  interested  and  in  earnest ! All  our  contributions  to  dif- 
ferent religious  and  benevolent  objects  combined,  are  far  less  a 
proportion  of  our  incomes  than  Avas  authoritatively  required  of 
the  JeAvish  church,  or  than  is  now  given  by  heathen  nations 
for  the  support  of  idolatry.  Our  Foreign  Board  has  been  ap- 
pealing to  the  churches  for  years  for  means  to  enable  it  to 
extend  its  operations  into  new  and  inviting  fields;  but  it  has 
been  able  to  do  but  little  more  than  to  retain  its  footiug  in  the 
old  stations,  and  in  doing  this,  Ave  are  closing  the  year  with  a 
debt  of  about  thirty -five  thousand  dollars.  These  statements  are 
important,  not  simply  as  showing  Iioav  little  money  our  Foreign 
Board  has  to  disburse,  but  chiefly  as  the  best  indication  Ave 
can  have,  of  the  degree  of  interest  and  sympathy  which  really 
exists  in  the  hearts  of  Christians.  The  Church,  Avith  scriptural 
vieAVs  of  her  duty,  and  a deep  and  lively  sympathy  Avith  Christ 
in  the  travail  of  his  soul  over  a lost  world,  might  Avithout  diffi- 
culty increase  her  contributions  tenfold.  There  are  very  feAV, 
even  of  the  poorest,  who  could  not  afford  to  give  at  least  one 
dollar  per  annum  for  the  cause  of  Foreign  Missions,  Avithout 
neglecting  other  objects  of  beneArolence ; while  others  could  as 
easily  give  their  tens  and  hundreds  and  thousands. 

In  this  connection,  other  facts  may  be  referred  to  as  evidence 
of  this  general  Avant  of  interest.  With  the  whole  heathen 
Avorld  before  us,  we  have  thirty  times  as  many  ministers  labor- 
ing at  home  as  abroad  ; and  Avitli  the  great  want  of  laborers 
abroad,  there  are  very  many  more  ministers  at  home  without 


12 


HUMAN  AND  DIVINE  AGENCY 


charges  than  the  whole  number  representing  us  in  the  foreign 
field. 

Again,  the  Monthly  Concert,  for  want  of  interest  in  pastors, 
or  people,  or  both,  is  in  most  places  thinly  attended ; and  in 
many  instances,  made  up  of  the  pastor,  one  or  two  elders,  and 
a few  devout  women.  The  cases  are  not  a few  in  which  this 
meeting,  which  many  churches  have  found  so  interesting,  and 
so  profitable,  has  been  entirely  discontinued.  Many  of  our  pas- 
tors, not  to  speak  of  the  people,  who  find  time  and  inclination 
to  read  the  daily  papers,  hardly  ever  open  our  monthly  mission- 
ary periodicals  ; and  are  unable  to  interest  their  congregations 
in  the  work  of  Missions,  simply  from  want  of  interest  and  infor- 
mation themselves. 

I find  that  in  some  churches  the  distinction  is  made  between 
a Missionary  sermon  and  a Gospel  sermon ; as  if  those  sublime 
utterances  of  Isaiah,  Paul,  and  the  Saviour  himself,  which  relate 
to  Missions,  were  not  a part  of  the  gospel ; and  should  not  be 
made  the  themes  of  pulpit  discourses,  except  on  stated  and 
special  occasions,  when  those  to  whom  these  themes  are  dis- 
tasteful would  be  at  liberty  to  stay  at  home,  or  go  elsewhere. 
How  seldom  is  the  doctrine  presented  and  enforced  as  a neces- 
sary part  of  ordinary  gospel  preaching,  that  the  Church  of  Christ 
is  essentially  a Missionary  Church ; that  the  New  Testament  is 
a Missionary  Book;  and  that  every  disciple  of  Christ  is  under 
solemn  vows  and  responsibilities  to  aid,  as  he  has  opportunity 
and  ability,  in  this  enterprise.  Ministers  of  the  gospel  will 
sometimes  discourse  eloquently  on  the  theme  of  “ Paul  at 
Athens  preaching  to  Idolators  and  this  is  a favorite  subject, 
as  rvell  it  may  be,  for  the  Christian  orator  and  painter ; but 
how  little  is  the  heart  of  the  Church  stirred  within  her  in  con- 
templating the  idolatry  and  spiritual  destitution  of  the  heathen 
nations  of  the  present,  which  now  contain  thousands  of  cities 
filled  with  idols.  Strange,  that  eighteen  hundred  years  after 
the  death  of  Christ,  the  greater  part  of  the  world’s  inhabitants 
should  still  be  idolators ; stranger  still  that  that  terrible  fact 
can  so  slightly  affect  and  disturb  us. 

We  wonder  that  the  Church  was  asleep  half  a century  ago 


IN  THE  WORK  OF  MISSIONS. 


13 

on  the  subject  of  Missions;  and  \vc  rejoice  and  thank  God,  as 
well  we  may,  that  we  are  now  doing  something;  but  I believe 
the  wonder  of  those  who  come  after  us  will  be,  that  we  are  but 
half  awake,  and  hardly  beginning  to  do  our  work  as  we  should. 

II.  The  command  of  the  text  now  claims  our  attention. 

1.  Moses  was  required  to  speak  to  the  children  of  Israel  that 
they  go  forward.  The  duty  imposed  could  not  be  performed 
by  Moses,  or  the  Priests  and  Levites,  or  the  Elders  of  Israel. 
Then,  as  now,  it  rested  upon  the  whole  company  of  God’s  peo- 
ple individually.  Sharers  in  a common  salvation,  all  subject 
to  the  same  commands,  identified  in  one  bod}',  and  moving  to- 
gether as  a unit,  obedience  from  all  was  necessary ; and  we 
know  how  often  remissness  on  the  part  of  an  individual,  or 
family,  affected  disastrously  the  movements  of  the  whole  body. 
As  our  different  Boards  are  only  the  instruments  or  channels 
through  which  the  Church  acts,  they  can  only  send  out  men 
and  disburse  funds  as  individual  members  of  the  Church  make 
a voluntary  consecration  of  themselves  and  their  wealth  to  the 
Lord.  If  churches  and  Christians  are  apathetic  and  inactive, 
the  sources  of  our  supplies  are  dried  up,  and  our  work  ceases. 
A striking  illustration  of  the  manner  in  which  we  should  all 
co-operate  in  laboring  for  Christ,  is  furnished  us  by  the  history 
of  the  last  war;  when  from  every  town,  and  hamlet,  and  fireside; 
and  from  societies,  and  voluntary  organizations,  came  pouring 
in  the  needed  contributions;  till  our  armies  swelled  to  hundreds 
of  thousands,  and  our  supplies  to  hundreds  of  millions.  Thus, 
and  only  thus,  was  our  country  saved.  And  are  the  claims  of 
Christ  and  his  kingdom  less  binding  upon  us  than  those  of  our 
country  ? While  we  give  so  freely  to  Caesar  the  things  that  are 
Caesar’s,  shall  we  give  so  scantily  and  grudgingly  to  God  the 
things  that  are  God’s  ? Having  learned  what  our  resources  for 
accomplishing  great  things  are,  and  having  been  laid  under  a 
new  debt  of  gratitude  to  God  for  his  protecting  mercy,  should 
we  not  devote  ourselves  with  the  same  zeal  and  energy,  to 
waging  war  against  the  empire  of  Satan,  and  establishing  that 
kingdom  which  is  an  everlasting  kingdom  ? 


14 


HUMAN  AND  DIVINE  AGENCY 


2.  "While  the  people  were  required  to  go  forward,  the  special 
charge  to  Moses  was,  speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel  that  they 
go  forward.  Those  who  are  the  divinely  appointed  instructors 
and  guides  of  the  Church,  are  in  a great  measure  responsible  for 
her  understanding  and  performing  the  duties  which  God  re- 
quires of  her.  I believe  that  here  is  one  of  the  sources,  if  not 
the  principle  source,  of  our  difficulties.  As  we  have  no  agents 
appointed  in  our  Church  to  attend  to  the  matter  of  presenting 
the  claims  of  the  Boards,  and  this'  duty  has  been  left  by  the 
General  Assembly  in  the  hands  of  individual  pastors,  it  should 
be  attended  to  by  them  thoroughly,  and  conscientiously.  In 
commending  this  subject  to  the  attention  of  their  people,  they 
are  not  called  upon  to  present  any  new  plan,  of  human  origin, 
and  doubtful  expediency ; but  simply  to  present  the  gospel  as 
Christ  taught  it,  and  the  Apostles  preached  it;  giving  to  the 
work  of  Missions — the  duty  of  personal  consecration — and  the 
doctrine  of  the  stewardship  of  believers — the  same  prominence 
that  the  New  Testament  gives  to  these  subjects.  If  there  is  a 
restiveness,  and  sensitiveness  manifested  on  the  part  of  some 
Christians  when  these  duties  are  presented,  there  is  all  the 
more  need  that  they  be  urged  home  with  all  their  weight  of 
divine  authority. 

Many  of  our  churches  are  weak  and  dependent,  and  many 
Christians  poor  in  this  world's  goods.  These  circumstances 
will  excuse  them  from  giving  largely,  but  not  from  giving  their 
due  proportion,  as  God  has  prospered  them.  It  is  still  their 
duty  to  do  what  they  can ; to  move  forward  in  unison  and 
sympathy  with  the  great  body  of  God’s  people ; to  perform 
their  function,  however  feeble ; to  acknowledge  their  duties 
by  outward  act;  and  to  seek  the  approving  smile  and  blessing 
of  the  Great  Master,  with,  perhaps,  that  special  benediction, 
“Verily  I say  unto  you  she  has  cast  in  more  than  they  all.” 
How  many  are  there  of  the  twelve  hundred  churches  who  con- 
tributed nothing  at  all  the  past  year,  who  could  not  have  given 
at  least  from  ten  to  fifty  dollars.  An  average  from  them  of 
thirty  dollars,  would  have  left  us  free  from  the  debt  with  which 
we  are  obliged  to  commence  the  next  year. 


IN  THE  WORK  OF  MISSIONS. 


15 


3.  Christian  friends  we  must  go  forward.  Our  prosperity, 
if  not  our  very  existence  as  a Church,  demands  it.  Our  safety 
can  only  he  secured  hy  keeping  pace  with  the  onward  march 
of  God’s  providence,  and  walking  with  the  light  and  protection 
of  Jehovah’s  presence.  Our  position  is  like  that  of  the  Israel- 
ites. As  the  pillar  of  fire  moved  forward,  not  to  advance  with 
it,  was  to  fall  into  the  dark  shadow  which  it  threw  behind  it; 
to  grope  and  stumble  without  a guide ; to  be  swallowed  up  by 
the  advancing  hosts  of  God’s  enemies.  There  is  danger,  too, 
that  the  heathen  nations,  which  are  now  being  brought  into 
such  intimate  relations  with  us,  will,  if  we  refuse  to  evangelize 
them,  pour  back  upon  us  a tide  of  immorality  and  infidelity 
which  we  cannot  resist.  More  than  this,  the  wealth  lavished 
upon  self,  which  should  be  appropriated  to  supply  the  wants 
of  others,  will  prove  a curse  rather  than  a blessing.  The 
worldliness  and  selfishness  now  fostered  and  developed  will 
produce  their  appropriate  fruits,  choking  the  growth  of  piety, 
and  sapping  the  foundations  of  the  Church.  But  our  greatest 
danger  is,  that  if  we  turn  a deaf  ear  to  the  calls  of  God’s  word 
and  of  his  providence ; and  to  the  cry  of  perishing  millions  for 
the  bread  of  life,  God  will  turn  away  his  face  from  us,  and 
treat  us  as  we  have  treated  him  and  his  cause.  What  could 
we  do  for  the  advancement  of  the  Church  at  home,  and  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  our  own  people,  with  all  our  wealth  and 
all  our  exertions,  if  God  should  withhold  or  take  from  us  the 
influences  of  his  Spirit  ? “ With  what  measure  ye  mete,  it  shall 
be  measured  to  you  again.”  “ There  is  that  withholdeth  more 
than  is  meet,  and  it  tendeth  to  poverty.”  “ Go  ye  into  all  the 
world  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature,  and  lo  I am 
with  you.” 

4.  The  practical  question  may  arise,  in  what  direction  shall 
ice  go  forward?  The  Great  Commission  answers  clearly,  “ Go 
ye  into  all  the  world.”  The  providence  of  God  points  to  wide 
doors  opened  everywhere  and  says : “ Enter  in  and  possess  the 
world.”  The  paramount  claims  of  our  own  country  must  not 
be  forgotten  or  neglected.  In  the  great  field  before  us,  there 
are  no  rival  claims,  no  conflicting  interests.  The  work  is  one. 


16 


HUMAN  AND  DIVINE  AGENCY. 


We  must  evangelize  our  country,  that  we  may  through  it  evan- 
gelize the  heathen : we  must  evangelize  the  heathen,  lest  we 
fail  to  save  our  own  country.  Are  we  able  to  do  such  a work  ? 
Is  it  not  presumption  in  us  to  undertake  an  enterprise  of  such 
vast  proportions?  Of  ourselves,  we  can  do  nothing.  The  work 
is  God’s,  as  well  as  ours.  His  is  all  the  power;  his  shall  be  all  the 
glory.  He  might  perform  it  without  the  intervention  of  human 
agency.  He  chooses  however  to  work  through  us,  and  calls 
upon  us  to  do  nothing  but  what  we  may  do.  The  part  which 
we  have  to  perform,  may  be  as  simple  as  the  marching  of  the 
Israelites  towards  the  sea ; but  the  power  of  God  accompanying 
his  own  appointed  means  will  render  them  effectual.  Though 
our  work  were  still  more  difficult,  and  our  enemies  still  more 
numerous,  by  God’s  help  we  are  able  to  enter  in  and  possess 
the  land.  We  are  not  required  to  go  to  war  at  our  own  charges, 
or  to  fight  in  our  own  strength.  This  is  our  confidence,  and 
this  our  glory : “ The  Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us,  the  God  of 
Jacob  is  our  refuge.’’ 

Christian  friends,  as  we  go  forward  in  the  discharge  of  duty, 
we  have  before  us,  as  the  ultimate  result  of  our  labors,  and  the 
great  object  of  our  faith  and  hope,  the  assured  fact,  that  “ the 
earth  shall  be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  the 
Lord and  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  “ shall  have  dominion 
from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  the  river  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.” 
This  blessed  hope  is  fitted  to  fire  the  highest  ambition,  and 
stimulate  to  the  most  earnest  effort.  We  may  differ  as  to  the 
precise  order  and  manner,  in  which  the  predicted  events  of  the 
future  are  to  take  place ; but  as  to  the  certainty  of  them,  and 
the  part  which  the  Church  has  to  perform  in  bringing  them 
about,  there  can  be  no  question.  “ This  gospel  of  the  kingdom 
shall  he  preached  in  all  the  worlds  for  a witness  to  all  nations , 
and  then  shall  the  end  come.”  Let  us  then  be  up  and  doing  ; 
quitting  ourselves  like  men,  and  putting  forth  efforts  in  some 
decree  commensurate  with  the  ureat  work  to  which  God  has 
called  us ; and  God  will  go  forth  with  us  by  the  power  of  his 
Spirit,  and  “make  bare  his  holy  arm  in  the  eyes  of  all  the  na- 
tions, and  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  shall  see  the  salvation  of 
our  God.” 


